Australian Open 2011: China's Peng Shuai eases into Australian Open second round
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Play VideoChina's Peng Shuai eases into Australian Open second round
Day two of competition at the Australian Open...and China's Peng Shuai and Zhang Shuai in action, hoping to move on to round two. Unfortunately, Zhang Shuai was knocked in a straight sets defeat to Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic. Meanwhile Peng Shuai, hoping for a better fate as she was taking on Ukraine's Kateryna Bondarenko.
And Peng Shuai would get her run at the Australian Open off to a rough beginning, Bondarenko got off to a great start against the Chinese, owning the first set. The Ukrainian taking it 6-2.
But Peng Shuai found her rhythm in the second set.
Peng, would turn things around and race out to a big lead in the set two...and would continue her strong play to take the second 6-3 to force this affair to a deciding third set.
And the third set...would turn into a marathon.
The two players, tied at 6...played a great point with Peng at advantage. This point went back and forth, before Peng was able to secure a 7-6 lead thanks to a great backhand winner.
Peng Shuai then took the momentum to seal the set 8-6, and with it a place in the second round.
Peng Shuai said, "I told myself to hold on during the match and to earn the points one by one. Actually, while playing I heard a lot of fans supporting me. So, I said to myself, don't give up."
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Murray eases through after Beck retires
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